Dogs Jerk The Bjork, Get Series Sweep July 19, 1998
(AP) DULUTH, MN--It was like the Washington Redskins against the
Denver Broncos. The Forty-Niners against the Chargers.
The Washington Sea Dogs, behind two homers and 10 RBI from Mariano Duncan,
smashed the Duluth Bjork 12-6 and 13-2 to complete a series sweep in
which Duluth was outscored 49-16.
"It was like pinball in there," said Duncan, who also doubled twice and
scored five runs. "Every time we turned around, we were hitting
something."
Yesterday also marked another day in which every Sea Dog starter had at
least one hit. Also leading the charge were catcher Mike STanley, with
five hits including two homers, and shortstop Barry Larkin with six hits
and five RBI.
Manager Aaron Weiner was ecstatic about the immense run production.
"After sitting through a whole lot of 4-1 and 3-2 losses last year,"
Weiner said, "this is like Hannukah to me. Just watching Mariano perform
under pressure in the first game was a beautiful thing."
In the first game, starter Ben McDonald (8-7) held the Bjork scoreless for
five innings while the Sea Dogs were busy putting up nine runs. McDonald,
who allowed six hits through seven innings, was tagged with a grand slam
by Frank Thomas in the sixth and an unearned run on a Knoblauch error, but
settled down after that.
In the second game, Shawn Estes, making his second start of the series,
pitched three strong innings, and left with a 5-1 lead. Long man Fred
Smith came on and went four strong innings, allowing two hits and a walk,
to collect his second victory of the year.
The Sea Dogs (50-40) have the best record in team history and are riding a
five-game winning streak. They currently lead the wild-card race by
three games over Springfield, four over Richmond and are now five games
ahead of the Bjork.
The next two series for the Sea Dogs are also key series, as they visit
Phoenix Gila Monsters for three games and then come home for another
four-game set with the Bjork. Washington dropped three out of four to the
Gila Monsters before the All-Star Break.
"Against Phoenix," Weiner said, "we're just looking to win at least one of
three to keep the lead in the wild-card. We've got a lot of respect for
the Gila Monsters."
Notes and Quotes:
"Have they stopped hitting yet?"
---Duluth fan
"Have we stopped hitting yet?"
---Mike Stanley, in the locker room
"Nope."
---Mariano Duncan, also in the locker room
* * *
Washington came into the series with 328 runs scored in 86 games, a 3.7
RPG average. After this sereis, they have 377 runs in 90 games, raising
their average to 4.2 runs per game.
"It's amazing how much one series can do," said Chuck Knoblauch.
* * *
Washington wishes to congratulate starting pitcher Mackenzee
Leefenhaufenhauz on being voted Pitcher of the Month for the month of
June. Leefenhaufenhauz went 4-0 in the month of June, with a microscopic
0.74 ERA. Leeefenhaufenhauz was stunned at the award.
"Well, you know, it is just my first year," said Leefenhaufenhauz, whose
unusual name comes from a Jamaican mother and German father. "I cannot
say enough how much I'm honored by this."
Mackenzee continued his torrid string in winning the second game in the
Duluth series, allowing no earned runs in seven innings.
"It is because of the pitching of Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz that we are
where we are today," said general manager Aaron Weiner. "His pitching
this season is indicative of a franchise pitcher, which is exactly what we
felt when we drafted him, and why we brought him up so fast."
Leefenhaufenhauz currently possesses a 10-6 record, a 2.12 ERA and has 16
quality starts in 21 starts. He has allowed a microscopic .223 opposing
average and a .306 opposing slugging percentage. He is also third in the
Defiant League with 140.1 innings pitched.
"You've only seen the tip of the iceberg for Big Mack," said Weiner.
"It's always hard to forget that he's only 19."
On the farm:
The Sea Dogs were concerned about top prospect Don Coker, as he had been
posting averages in the low .200s earlier this month at Towson. However,
he has recently gone five for his last 9 to raise his average to .265.
"I know the organization has a lot of faith in me," said Coker, "and I'm
not going to let them down."
The Sea Dogs, however, are still concerned over the weak hitting of
shortstop Dennis Abreu. Abreu has shown some patience at the plate, with
11 walks so far, but is hitting only .165.
"We have to remember that he's a rookie, and that he's still adjusting to
this kind of level," said minor-league manager A. Weiner. "But I really
like his compact stroke. He's just swinging at bad pitches right now."
Rookie Buddy Moisan has also impressed, posting a 1.67 ERA in 32 innings
of work. He has had hard luck, as his 1-2 record portrays, but has been
absolutely dominant with 28 strikeouts and a .218 opposing batting
average.
Heinie Phillips has seemingly found his pitching stroke, with a 2.13 ERA
in twelve innings and 13 strikeouts. However, he is still giving up an
alarming amout of baserunners, with 13 hits and six walks allowed.
"We're very fortunate to have as much depth in pitching as we do to be
able to allow Heinie Phillips to find himself at AAA," said GM Weiner.
"We just hope he does, or we might have to trade another original Sea
Dog."
